Shane's Instructional Series DVD

Kris_b1104

Kris_b1104

House Pro in my own home.
Silver Member
I'm contemplating purchasing this DVD and I wanted to know if it has helped anyone's game or how useful it was.

I tried searching in the forum for some type of review but found nothing, maybe someone can be kind enough to link me to a review.

I've already purchased Mark Wilson's book and it should be here by next week, but Shane's dvd seems rather interesting as well. Thank you very much in advance.
 
I'm not sure they're worth buying the DVD over the onDemand version from the TAR site (assuming the physical discs are more expensive). All of them are decent and have a few gems; but they are hard to listen to. It sounds like he doesn't really want to give out information, but that's where Jennifer Baretta saves the day. She really works to translate what he's saying into something usable for the viewer - and she asks great follow-up questions to get a better understanding of the topic. Shane is one seriously gifted player, but an instructor he is not.

Oh - the mental game one ... you can safely pass on that one. It's about 30 minutes of him repeating himself "I just think back to a time where I played well and try to remember that feeling, that focus." for almost every question he's asked, that's his answer.

The breaking one is decent if for no other reason it shows a couple of slo-mo shots of his break so you can figure out what he's doing/moving and when. He does offer some tips about aiming on the break; which is helpful. The aiming one is okay, if you're comfortable understanding a basic version of CTE. The running out one is good if you want to hear about his choices for position.
 
stljohnny said:
I'm not sure they're worth buying the DVD over the onDemand version from the TAR site (assuming the physical discs are more expensive). All of them are decent and have a few gems; but they are hard to listen to. It sounds like he doesn't really want to give out information, but that's where Jennifer Baretta saves the day. She really works to translate what he's saying into something usable for the viewer - and she asks great follow-up questions to get a better understanding of the topic. Shane is one seriously gifted player, but an instructor he is not.

Oh - the mental game one ... you can safely pass on that one. It's about 30 minutes of him repeating himself "I just think back to a time where I played well and try to remember that feeling, that focus." for almost every question he's asked, that's his answer.

The breaking one is decent if for no other reason it shows a couple of slo-mo shots of his break so you can figure out what he's doing/moving and when. He does offer some tips about aiming on the break; which is helpful. The aiming one is okay, if you're comfortable understanding a basic version of CTE. The running out one is good if you want to hear about his choices for position.
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Yeah I was planning on buying the onDemand version from Vimeo, not the actual hardcopy DVD. Thanks for all this info, saves me money and I can choose which one not to buy. I wonder if he's ever going to do a follow up series, assuming this one has made a bit of revenue. Thanks again for the review! Green rep coming your way. I also enjoyed reading your blog, good stuff there!!
 
IMHO you can pass on them. Shane is a monster for sure but for me it didn't translate very well into his DvDs. Hard to get anything useable for the common man in them .
 
If you don't learn something from the aiming video or the break video... then you didn't pay attention or you already know everything.
 
cleary said:
If you don't learn something from the aiming video or the break video... then you didn't pay attention or you already know everything.
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Aiming systems only work if you have a perfect stroke and are that person that is using the system. Or can get trained to line up the same way as the person teaching you.

There is nothing really new in the Shane videos, unless you are already a B+ player there is not much you can get from him. His main thing is "I can get anywhere on the table as long as I have an angle I'm ok" in his runout video. It really is showing how he plays "Shane's Way" like the videos say. Unfortunately 99% of us can't come close to doing what he demonstrates.

For instructional videos, the older CJ video is good (I have not seen his new TOI stuff), the Buddy Hall videos are good and so are the Bert Kinister videos although some are better than others. Some videos are just a drill gone over 10 times by a player although there are some neat little tricks he gives you here and there even during those boring ones.

From the clips I have seen of the rounout media video with Mika, those look well done with some well rounded info.
 
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Kris_b1104 said:
I'm contemplating purchasing this DVD and I wanted to know if it has helped anyone's game or how useful it was.

I tried searching in the forum for some type of review but found nothing, maybe someone can be kind enough to link me to a review.

I've already purchased Mark Wilson's book and it should be here by next week, but Shane's dvd seems rather interesting as well. Thank you very much in advance.
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The videos were never meant to be a traditional instruction type. Shane is not an instructor. He is one of the best players in the world. The videos are a look at how HE does what he does and some insight into what he thinks about when he does it.

Some people get more out of it than others. I think a lot it depends on how a person prefers to learn. If you are looking for a structured "Do A then B to get C." then its probably not the best fit.
 
They are very interesting to get in the head of Shane to see how a player like him thinks. He's not going to reveal the secret that makes you play like him, but there is some very good information. I agree that without Baretta it probably wouldn't have worked, she pulls the information out of him.

My favorite part is on the running the table section. She asks him where he wants to put the cue ball, he responds "Anywhere. Just not straight" or something like that. I was amused, but Baretta was able to get him to expound and go a little more in depth.

I would recommend it the series. You will learn something useful I think, and at the very least it's educational to get inside his head.
 
Cameron Smith said:
They are very interesting to get in the head of Shane to see how a player like him thinks. He's not going to reveal the secret that makes you play like him, but there is some very good information. I agree that without Baretta it probably wouldn't have worked, she pulls the information out of him.

My favorite part is on the running the table section. She asks him where he wants to put the cue ball, he responds "Anywhere. Just not straight" or something like that. I was amused, but Baretta was able to get him to expound and go a little more in depth.

I would recommend it the series. You will learn something useful I think, and at the very least it's educational to get inside his head.
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Jennifer did a great job. Without her the video would of lasted 60 seconds:

Fade in to close up of Shanes face...

Shane: "Practice."

Fade out...credits roll.
 
JCIN said:
Jennifer did a great job. Without her the video would of lasted 60 seconds:

Fade in to close up of Shanes face...

Shane: "Practice."

Fade out...credits roll.
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Ha ! You're absolutely right... Shane : this is how you get better: practice 16 hours a day; if you miss a shot shoot it for the next four hours...go to bed; wake up repeat... I love to watch the man play he's got it and has the comitment that few do.
 
From what I've read it looked like Mika's DVD's were the 1's to get. I myself don't have either, but from what I've seen that's what people have preferred. Hope that helps.
 
I would recommend Jerry Briesaths DVD to go along with Mark Wilsons Book. I also just so happen to have plenty in stock. Mark Wilson is the Player in the Video. THx
 
JCIN said:
The videos were never meant to be a traditional instruction type. Shane is not an instructor. He is one of the best players in the world. The videos are a look at how HE does what he does and some insight into what he thinks about when he does it.

Some people get more out of it than others. I think a lot it depends on how a person prefers to learn. If you are looking for a structured "Do A then B to get C." then its probably not the best fit.
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Yep, I really don't like not recommending anything you or Shane put out because pretty much everything it top rate, but the instructional video is very limited as far as the instructional part goes hehe. If anyone is not a B player already they will be pretty confused as to what is going on.

If someone is a fan of Shane (and maybe Jennifer :wink: ) it's a great item to have. If you're out to learn a bunch of new tricks, not so much.
 
Mika's Mastering Pool series are top-notch video quality and production. They're great for beginners/intermediate - but I'd guess for 80% of the members here, there's nothing new on them. The advanced disc talked about deflection, for example.

For more meat and potatoes, Dr. Dave's videos are outstanding, but lacking in quality of production (if you're used to Mika's series, for example). Still good, but not fancy. The info, however, can't be beat.
 
Thank You

Thank you for everyone's advice!! It really is greatly appreciated and I feel I would be playing at a much lower level if it wasn't for some people on AzBilliards who have given some good insight. I purchased the Shane DVD and the most I was able to get out of it was the breaking part, it has really improved my break to some degree. Mark Wilson's book has finally arrived and after the first chapter I'm hooked. I feel like this will end bad because I'll just end up buying every single book and instructional dvd there is due to my pool junkie habits, anyone else felt like this?! Once again thanks to all.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
Thank you for everyone's advice!! It really is greatly appreciated and I feel I would be playing at a much lower level if it wasn't for some people on AzBilliards who have given some good insight. I purchased the Shane DVD and the most I was able to get out of it was the breaking part, it has really improved my break to some degree. Mark Wilson's book has finally arrived and after the first chapter I'm hooked. I feel like this will end bad because I'll just end up buying every single book and instructional dvd there is due to my pool junkie habits, anyone else felt like this?! Once again thanks to all.
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Please don't go falling into that trap of thinking that knowledge will make you a better player. It alone won't. You have to take what knowledge you learn from the books and videos and spend a lot of time on the table practicing it. The books and tapes teach you what to practice and how to do things correctly, it's up to you to put in the time.
 
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Neil said:
Please don't go falling into that trap of thinking that knowledge will make you a better player. It alone won't. You have to take what knowledge you learn from the books and videos and spend a lot of time on the table practicing it. The books and tapes teach you what to practice and how to do things correctly, it's up to you to put in the time.
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Lol trust me, I've been putting the time in appropriately, but I just received the book yesterday so I couldn't really get to put it in practice right away. I've been practicing about 4 hours, 4 days a week. I work 3 days straight and I'm off 4 days, so that's the only time I can practice, plus make time for family and significant other. But the game is addicting, and I can't help but want all the knowledge I can get to help my game improve, but I do also put in the time. Thank you for the advice though =D
 
Neil said:
Please don't go falling into that trap of thinking that knowledge will make you a better player. It alone won't. You have to take what knowledge you learn from the books and videos and spend a lot of time on the table practicing it. The books and tapes teach you what to practice and how to do things correctly, it's up to you to put in the time.
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Thank you for this. It bugs me when people say that they know what to do but just can't execute it. The execution is the hard part! Rotation pool strategy isn't rocket science.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
Lol trust me, I've been putting the time in appropriately, but I just received the book yesterday so I couldn't really get to put it in practice right away. I've been practicing about 4 hours, 4 days a week. I work 3 days straight and I'm off 4 days, so that's the only time I can practice, plus make time for family and significant other. But the game is addicting, and I can't help but want all the knowledge I can get to help my game improve, but I do also put in the time. Thank you for the advice though =D
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You should also go to Dr. Dave's and Bob Jewett's sites and study what info they have available. They have a LOT of info of great use.
 
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